Exceptional warmth in North America soon to end
Much of the central and eastern United States is experiencing one of the warmest Octobers on record. In Washington D.C., there have been 14 days this month with highs at or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27C). Even more astounding is that for 3 days temperatures were above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32C) in Washington.
Today, a cold front will end the extreme warmth, and temperatures for the rest of the week will run closer to normal. However significantly colder air is not expected. Sub-freezing conditions will remain trapped well to the north by the overall flow for several more days.
Parts of Canada are also enjoying an October that has felt more like summer. Yesterday mid-afternoon, Montreal was hotter than Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans. Over the weekend temperatures in Toronto were up to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26C) and local records were broken. A temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12C) is normal for this time of year.
The unseasonably warm weather has allowed children to go to school in shorts and sandals. Normally Montréalers are hauling out the deep tread tires by mid-October, but the unusually warm weather has meant that people are delaying the inevitable. To put things in perspective, compare this with the weather on October 21st 1988, when just over 21 cms of snow fell in Montréal.
Environment Canada forecasters are expecting a change to colder weather in coming days with temperatures falling close to freezing and perhaps the first snow flake on Halloween night.
